Four fucking hells, she was beautiful.
Voices broke across the training yard, and Cedric’s head whipped toward the source of the sound. Several squires had emerged from the barracks and were making their way over, their arms laden with equipment.
Shit. With Elyria weaving shadowy miracles and providing the ultimate distraction, Cedric had lost track of time. Worse still, he realized with a panicked pang that the quiet corner of the yard he’d chosen to practice in was, in fact, right next to the small hut that housed the whetstone and armor polishing station. The sun was rapidly rising, and the area would soon be crawling with squires and attendants and knights coming to maintain their weapons.
And Cedric still had a charred training dummy to dispose of.
Thoughts racing, he ran a hand down his face as he contemplated how he might haul it out of here without drawing attention to himself.
“Mmm, yes, I see your predicament,” drawled an amused, melodic voice.
Cedric twisted his head to find Elyria standing close to his right, surveying the mangled mannequin with interest before lifting her eyes to the approaching squires.
“Mind if I lend a hand?” she asked, not bothering to wait for his response before clenching her fist. The ground rumbled, pebbles rattling across the dirt floor of the training yard, swords and staffs and axes clattering from the weapons rack. And then the earth split, a small riftopening to swallow the dummy whole.
Shouts of alarm drew Cedric’s gaze back to the squires, scrambling on their hands and knees, their attention blessedly on retrieving the items they’d dropped thanks to the miniature earthquake that just rocked through the yard.
Elyria released her fist, her hand dropping loosely to her side. As quickly as it had ripped open, the ground sealed. And her wild grin and the twinkle in her emerald eyes was the last thing Cedric saw before she strode away.
18
TAKE A BREAK
ELYRIA
She was going to snap.
She was going to abso-fucking-lutely lose it.
Despite Kit’s assurances, the second half of the delegation still had yet to show their faces in Kingshelm, and Elyria thought she very well might go insane if she had to report for one more inane, pointless meeting or ceremony. Unfortunately, the visit to the Walk and the delight she found in the children there two days ago had been the last glimmering kernel of light Elyria had found in this fucking farce.
It had been nearly two full weeks of this bullshit—it was more than enough. Not even her flirty encounter with Cedric earlier was enough to settle Elyria’s nerves. She wasthis closeto losing her grasp on that final shred of diplomatic composure shestill clung to.
“I need a break,” she declared over lunch. Bright noon sunlight filtered into the small dining room through open balcony doors.
Kit rested her fork on the edge of her plate, lifting her blue and green eyes to meet Elyria’s glare from across the table. “We all need a break.”
Elyria exhaled slowly. “Yes, well, what I meant was, I’mtakingone. I’ve already informed, well, someone, that I’m not dealing with any more victorly shit today.” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing on Nox, sitting at Kit’s side. “And no magic practice either.”
“If you don’t practice, you won’t ever?—”
Elyria cut them off with a wave of her hand. “If I don’t let off some steam, far worse things will happen.” She stood, tossing her napkin down onto her plate, bacon grease seeping into the linen. “I’ve been on my ‘best behavior’ for entirely too long. I hardly feel like myself anymore.”
“At least you look like yourself again,” said Kit. “Am I correct in assuming another thing you needed a break from was Kymber’s dressing suggestions?”
Elyria smoothed the front of her blouse, retucking an errant flap into the waistband of her leather pants. For the first time in over a week, she had decided to forgo the palace’s pretty gowns for her own clothing, and now she could hardly remember why she’d agreed to play the part of the darling Arcanian victor so fully. It emboldened her, being back in her own clothes. Reminded her of her own mission, of why she was actually here.
“I’m going out tonight,” she said, sidestepping Kit’s remark with a pointed look. “Any of you are welcome to join me.”
From farther down the table, Thraigg barked a laugh, banging a fist next to his plate. “Well, ye know I’m in.”
“What have you been doing all week anyway?” asked Elyria. “I feel as though I’ve barely seen you.”
“Aww, have ye missed me, lass?”
She smirked at the dwarf. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Oh, ye know me. Been off beingdiplomatic.” He wiggled his bushy eyebrows.
